TS Today - Creating a Vision for the Future of Vacation Ownership Issue #142, Jul/Aug 2015 | Page 22

TimeSharing Today Page 22 always recommend that our boards verify this with legal counsel. The relocation process only affects a very small minority of WKH RZQHUVKLS KHQFH WKH MXVWL¿FDWLRQ IRU the shutdown) and because the replacement week is considered an upgrade, we seldom encounter any pushback. The due process involves picking up the phone and having one-on-one conversations. After that, the biggest challenge is a lot of deed preparation and keeping everything organized. Thus far, the process has not required any special vote, owner meetings, or hefty legal fees. (YHQLIZHKDYHGLI¿FXOW\IXO¿OOLQJD UHORFDWLQJ RZQHU¶V ¿UVW FKRLFH ZH NQRZ his/her usage history. A majority of this minority typically are frequent exchangers, so when we demonstrate that the replacement will have a higher exchange value, reluctance usually vanishes. Surrender: Lastly, some owners use the opportunity to surrender ownership— another option that boards can allow. For example, at a Cape Cod resort, we created an eight-week shutdown period (the two GHFODUHG PDLQWHQDQFH ZHHNV SOXV WKH ¿UVW six weeks of the year). It affected 208 owners in good standing, of which 186 chose an alternate interval and just 22 decided to relinquish ownership. Staff Notes Clearly, payroll must factor into the FRVWEHQH¿W DQDO\VLV DQG WKH SURVSHFW RI ORVLQJ YDOXDEOH HPSOR\HHV LV D VLJQL¿FDQW Jul/Aug, 2015 concern. The reality is that decisions about VWDI¿QJOHYHOVKDYHWREHPDGHHDFK\HDU DQGVRPHOHYHORIVWDI¿QJLVUHTXLUHGHYHQ during a closure. The building must be protected, someone must be available to answer the phone, maintenance must be performed, etc. Also, a shutdown period is an optimal time to perform major projects, interior painting, and renovations. For this reason, the general manager and key personnel are generally exempt from furlough, though some may use the opportunity to take a well-deserved vacation. For those employees who will be laid off, unemployment compensation is available, but it typically does not replace full wages. The board should consider continu- Plan Ahead to Winterize your Resort With summer just around the corner, now is the time to plan for Old Man Winter to visit your tim \